Split intermediate housing section for multi-rotor rotary mechanism

ABSTRACT

The improved split intermediate housing section comprises a plurality of fastening assemblies disposed between the two parts of the housing section and radially inward of the outer periphery of the housing section. Each assembly has a fixed camming surface on one part of the housing section and an adjustable camming surface on the other part of the housing section disposed to abut the fixed camming surface. A bolt coacts with the adjustable camming surface to move the latter relative to the fixed camming surface and develop a reactive, axially directed force drawing the two parts of the housing section together. Access port means is provided in the housing section for each fastening assembly to permit a tool to extend from a point exteriorly of the housing section, in the housing section to engagement with the bolt for rotation.

United States Patent [191 Woodier et a].

[ SPLIT INTERMEDIATE HOUSING SECTION FOR MULTI-ROTOR ROTARY MECHANISM[75] Inventors: George II. Woodier, Ringwood;

Charles Jones, Hillsdale; Walter L. Hermes, Cedar Grove, all of NJ.

[73] Assignee: Curtiss-Wright Corporation,

Woodridge, NJ.

[22] Filed: Apr. 19, 1973 211 App]. No.2 352,438

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1962 Bentele 418/607/1965 Jones et a1. 418/60 [451 Feb. 12, 1974 Primary Examiner-BenjaminW. Wyche Assistant Examiner-F. D. Shoemaker Attorney, Agent, orFirmArthur Frederick [57] ABSTRACT The improved split intermediatehousing section comprises a plurality of fastening assemblies disposedbe tween the two parts of the housing section and radially inward of theouter periphery of the housing section. Each assembly has a fixedcamming surface on one part of the housing section and an adjustablecamming surface on the other part of the housing section disposed toabut the fixed camming surface. A bolt coacts with the agjus tablecamming surface to move the latter relativeto the fixed camming surfaceand develop a reactive, axially directed force drawing the two parts ofthe housing section together. Access port means is provided in thehousing'section for each fastening assembly to permit a tool to extendfrom a point exteriorly of the housing section, in the housing sectionto engagement with the bolt for rotation.

SPLIT INTERMEDIATE HOUSING SECTION FOR MUL'lI-ROTOR ROTARY MECHANISMThis invention relates to rotary mechanisms of the type disclosed in theU.S. Pat. No. 2,988,065 to Wankel et al. and, more particularly, tomulti-rotor internal combustion rotary mechanisms of the aforesaid type.

BACKGROUND In multi-rotor rotary mechanisms, such as exemplitied in theU.S. Pats. to Bentele, No. 3,062,435; Jones No. 3,193,187; Jones, No.3,240,423; Takebayashi, No. 3,279,279, and Zimmerman, No. 3,302,623,relative ease of assembly and dissasembly has been provided for byvarious structural features. In the Bentele U.S. Pat. No. 3,062,435, asingle element crankshaft is provided in combination with a two-piecefixed gear and two-piece intermediate housing sections. In theTakebayashi U.S. Pat. No. 3,279,279 a muIti-rotor engine is providedwith a multi-element crankshaft secured together by a tie-bolt incombination with twopiece intermediate housing sections. The Jones U.S.Pat. No. 3,193,187 discloses an engine having onepiece intermediatehousing sections with a single element crankshaft and a cone mounted,two-piece fixed gear. Another patent to Jones, U.S. Pat. No. 3,240,423,discloses an engine having a crankshaft composed of removable eccentricsand one-piece intermediate housing sections. In those rnulti-rotorrotary mechanisms where two-piece intermediate housing sections areemployed it is difficult to attain in such housing sections therequisite structural strength which is capable of resisting thedistortion resulting from the non-uniform thermal flux to which thehousing is subjected. This non-uniform heating of the housing of aninternal combustion rotary engine is fully disclosedin the U. S. Pats.to Jones No. 3,196,850, No. 3,302,622 and No. 3,318,515. It is,therefore, necessary in a two-piece intermediate housing section to notonly secure the two housing parts together at their peripheral portions,but at their inner areas as well. Of course one of the problems ofsecuring the inner portions of the housing section together is theaccessibility of the securing means, particularly in a modular assemblywhere each module, comprising a rotor and rotor housing section andcrankshaft section, can be pre-assembled as a unit and is capable ofremoval and replacement as a unit without complete disassembly andreassembly of the engine. To achieve a multi-rotor engine of modularconstruction where a two-piece fixed gear assembly of the type shown inthe Bentele U.S. Pat. No. 3,062,435, it is essential that a twopiecehousing section be provided.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a two-pieceintermediate housing section for a multirotor rotary mechanism which hasthe comparable structuralstrength as a single-piece intermediate housingsection.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a two-pieceintermediate housing section for a multirotor rotary mechanism which iscapable of being secured together radially inward of its periphery, aswell as about its periphery.

A further object of this invention is to provide a twopiece intermediatehousing section for a multi-rotor rotary mechanism which has thestructural strength substantially that of a one-piece intermediatehousing and in combination with a removable crankshaft and stationarygear assembly, permits modular construction of the mechanism.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide atwo-piece intermediate housing section for a multi-rotor rotarymechanism in which the two pieces are capable of being connectedtogether in a region substantially inwardly of their periphery, suchconnection and disconnection being accomplished from the exterior of themechanism.

SUMMARY Accordingly, the present invention contemplates an improvedtwo-piece or split intermediate housing section for a multi-rotor rotarymechanism, the parts of which housing section are secured together atthe periphery thereof and at a point radially inward of the periphery.The improvement comprises a plurality of fastening assemblies disposedbetween the two parts of the split intermediate housing section andradially inward of the outer periphery of the housing section. Each ofthe fastening assemblies consists of a first member secured to one partof the housing section and a second member secured to the other part ofthe housing section. The first and second members are adjustablerelative to each other so as to produce a force drawing the two partstogether. Access means is provided at the periphery of the housingsection so that a tool may be inserted to effect adjustment ordisconnection of the fastening assemblies.

In one embodiment of the invention each of the fastening assembliescomprises abutting camming surfaces on the first and second members andbolt means for bringing the camming surfaces into abutment and movingone surface relative to the other and thus produce an axially directedforce drawing the two parts of the housing section together.

In another embodiment of this invention one of the members having one ofthe camming surfaces has a pilot portion which coacts with a recess torelieve the bolt means of the axially directed forces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS substantially along line 33 of FIG. 2;and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a fastening assemblyaccording to another embodiment of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Now referring tothe drawing and, more specifically FIGS. 1 to 3, the reference number 10generally designates an intermediate housing section of a multi-rotorrotary mechanism, such as the type disclosed in the U.S. Pats. toBentele, No. 3,062,435; Jones, No. 3,193,187; Jones, No. 3,240,423;Takebayashi No. 3,279,279 and Zimmerman, No. 3,302,623. As shown in FIG.1, the intermediate housing section 10 is disposed between two trochoidhousing sections 12 and 14 (only partially shown) and defines with thetrochoid housing sections together with housing sections not showncavities or rotor chambers 16. A rotor 18 is supported for rotation byan eccentric portion 20 on a crankshaft 22 in each of the rotor chambers16. The crankshaft 22 is, in turn, supported in suitable bearingsmounted in the housing including a sleeve bearing 24 disposed withinthebore of a stationary gear 26, which is secured by bolts 28 within a hubportion 30 of intermediate housing section 10.

The intermediate housing section comprises a first housing part 32 and asecond housing part 34. Each of the housing parts 32 and 34 may becastings or forgings having machined mating surfaces or interfaces 36which extend in abutment with each other in a plane extendingsubstantially normal to the longitudinal axis of crankshaft 22. Each ofthe housing parts also is fabricated so as to form hub portion 30 and todefine therebetween a plurality of cavities 38 extending from therespective outer peripheral portions 40 and 42 of each of the housingparts 32 and 34 radially inward to hub portion 30. Each of the housingparts 32 and 34 is provided with a plurality of radially projectingcircumferentially spaced, flange portions 44 and 46 (only one pair offlanges being shown) which are secured together by suitable means, suchas bolts 48 (only one of which is shown) or the like. To provide coolingfluid flow through intermediate housing section 10, each housing part 32and 34 is provided with passages 50 each of which communicate withpassages 52 in trochoid housing sections 12 and 14.

In multi-rotor rotary mechanisms having two-piece or split intermediatehousing sections 10, as herein described, intermediate housing sections10 are subject to non-uniform heat flux, particularly in mechanisms ofthe internal combustion type. This non-uniform heat flux, as fullydescribed in the U. S. Pats. to Jones No. 3,196,850, No. 3,302,622 andNo. 3,318,515, results in stresses which tend to distort or bow thehousing parts 32 and 34 in the areas radially inward of their outerperipheral portions 40 and 42, respectively. This distortion results inexcessive seal wear, leakage passed the seals, and fluid leakage betweeninterfaces 36. In accordance with the present invention, theintermediate housing section 10 is provided with requisiste structuralsymmetry and strength to resist the thermal stresses tending to distortthe housing section by providing a plurality of fastening assemblies 54(only one of which is shown in the drawings) in the cavities 38 in thearea adjacent to and surrounding hub portion 30.

Each fastening assembly 54 comprises a wedge retainer 56, a wedgeelement 58 and a bolt 78 for moving the wedge element 58 relative towedge retainer 56. As best shwon in FIG. 3, wedge retainer 56 has aU-shape with the legs 62 thereof having flange portions 64. The wedgeretainer 56 is secuted to housing part 32 adjacent hub portion 30 in anysuitable manner, such as by means of bolts 66 which project throughholes in flange portions 64 and are turned into aligned threaded bores68 in an internal boss 70 of housing part 32. The wedge retainer 56 ismounted on housing part 32 prior to the Iatters connection to housingpart 34. The base portion 72 of wedge retainer 56 has an inner inclinedcamming surface 74 which is complementary to and coacts with an outerinclined camming surface 76 on wedge elemnet 58. As best illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, wedge element S8 is positioned in the space defined bywedge retainer 56 and boss of housng part 32 and with its cammingsurface 76 in abutment against camming surface 74 of the wedge retainer.The bolt 78 is positioned in a bore 80 in wedge element 58 and with itsthreaded shank portion 82 turned into a threaded bore 84 in housing part34. The bolt 78, when turned into tapped bore 84, forces wedge element58 in its camming surface 76 relative to camming surface 78, thusproducing reactive forces directed substantially parallel to thecrakshaft axis. These reactive forces draw the interfaces 36 of housingparts 32 and 34 into tight abutment. To provide self-positioning of thecamming surfaces 74 and 76, bolt 78 has a reduced diameter shank portion86. The annular clearance thus provided between the bore 80 and shank86, permits bolt 78 to bend when turned up tight, but only to thelimited extent permitted by the aforesaid clearance.

To facilitate the turning of bolts 78 of each of the fasteningassemblies 54 from outside of intermediate housing section 10, an accessport 88 is provided in housing part 34 for each cavity 38 to communicatethe latter with the exterior of intermediate housing section 10. Theaccess port 88 is of sufficient size to allow a suitable tool to beinserted into cavity 38 to engage bolt 78 and effect the turningthereof. If cavities 38 are in areas used for oil supply, drainage orventing each of the access ports 88 may be suitably sealed, as by plugs,caps or the like (not shown). Not only can bolts 78 of fasteningassemblies 54 be turned to draw and hold housing parts 32 and 34together, but when disassembly is desired, bolts 78 can be turnedcompletely out of bore 84 to disconnect the housing parts. Thus, bybeing able to separate the housing parts of intermediate housingsections 10 on opposite sides of a trochoid housing section, thetrochoid housing section and its rotor can be removed from the mechanismassembly after disconnection of the crankshaft sections by means (notshown) such as disclosed in the U. S. Pat. to Takebayashi, No.3,279,279.

In FIG. 4 is shown a fastening assembly 90 according to anotherembodiment of this invention, which assembly only differs from fasteningassembly 54 in that a piloting means is provided to absorb the axiallydirected forces. The parts of fastening assembly 90 which correspond tolike parts of fastening assembly 54 will be designated by the samereference number but with the suffix A added thereto.

The fastening assembly 90 comprises a wedging element 92 which has apilot portion 94. The pilot portion 94 extends into a counterboredportion 96 of tapped hole 84A when bolt 78A is turned into the latter.The pilot portion 94 functions to absorb the axially directed reactionforces produced by the coaction of camming surfaces 76 A and 74A ofwedge element 92 and wedge retainer 56A, to thus relieve bolt 78A ofsuch forces.

It is believed now readily apparent tht the present invention providesan improved two-piece intermediate housing section which has astructural strength comparable to a single unitary intermediate housingsection. It is a housing section in which the two housing parts can beheld together in the area of the hub portion by means operable fromoutside of the assembly. It is a housing section which lends itself andcontributes to a muIti-rotor rotary mechanism of modular construction.

Although two embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited thereto. Various changes can be made in the arrangement of partswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as the samewill now be understood by those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A two-piece intermediate housing section for the housing of amulti-rotor rotary mechanism in which each rotor is supported forrotation on a crankshaft, the intermediate housing section comprising:

a. first and second housing parts having juxtaposed mating surfacesdisposed in abutment and extending in a plane substantially normal tothe longitudinal axis of the crankshaft;

b. the first and second housing parts being constructed and arranged toform a hub portion surrounding said crankshaft and to define a cavitytherebetween extending from adjacent the outer peripheries of thehousing parts to adjacent the hub portion; and

c. a plurality of fastening assemblies disposed in said cavity to securesaid mating surfaces of said first and second housing parts in abutment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein access port means is provided in thehousing section in communication with said cavity to permit passage of atool, to engage said fastening assemblies.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of fasteningassemblies comprises a first means associated with the first housingpart and a second means associated with the second housing part, thefirst and second means being adjustable relative to each other so as todraw the two housing parts together.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said fastening assembliescomprises two camming surfaces, each one being associated with a housingpart and disposed to abut the other surface, and securing means formoving one camming surface relative to the other camming surface andthereby provide a force directed substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the crankshaft to draw the housing parts and theirmating surfaces into abutment.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said securing means is a bolt.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein one of said camming surfaces is amember bolted to the first housing part and the other camming surface ison a member connected to the second housing part.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first means is a U-shapedbracket having a first camming surface, said second means is a movablewedge element having a second camming surface substantiallycomplementary to said first camming surface and wherein a securing meansis connected to said wedge element to move the latter relative to saidU-shaped bracket and thereby effecting through said first and secondcamming surfaces a force directed to secure the mating surfaces of saidhousing parts in abutment.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second housing partsare constructed and arranged to define a plurality of cavities one foreach of said plurality of fastening assemblies.

9.'The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said wedge element has a pilotportion receivable in a recess in said second housing part.

10. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said securing means is a boltextending radially relative to the crankshaft and is turned into athreaded bore in the hub portion of the intermediate housing section.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said first and secondhousing parts are secured together at their outer peripheries.

12. A two-piece intermediate housing section for the housing of amulti-rotor rotary mechanism in which each rotor is supported forrotation on a crankshaft, the

intermediate housing section comprising:

a. first and second housing parts having juxtaposed mating surfacesdisposed in abutment and extending in a plane substantially normal tothe longitudinal axis of the crankshaft;

b. means at the outer peripheries of said first and second housing partsfor securing those housing parts together;

c. the first and second housing parts forming a hub portion receivingtherethrough said crankshaft and constructed and arranged to define acavity therebetween extending radially from adjacent the outerperipheries of the housing parts to adjacent the hub portion; and

d. a plurality of fastening assemblies disposed in said cavity to securesaid mating surfaces of said first and second housing parts in abutmentinwardly of the outer peripheries of said housing parts.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein an access port means communicatingwith the cavity is provided to permit a tool to engage said fasteningassemblies.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein each of said plurality offastening assemblies comprises:

a. a first means connected to said first housing part;

b. a second means movable relative to said first means and coacting uponrelative movement to draw the mating surfaces of the housing partstogether; and

c. securing means connected to said second means and to the secondhousing part to effect movement of said second means and hold the samein a desired position.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said first means is a brackethaving a first camming surface and the second means is a wedge elementhaving a second camming surface substantially complementary to saidfirst camming surface.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said securing means is a threadedelement receivable in a threaded bore in said second housing part.

17. Theapparatus of claim 15 wherein said wedge element has a, pilotportion which is receivable in a bore in said second housing part.

18. A two-piece intermediate housing section for the housing of amulti-rotor rotary mechanism in which each rotor is supported forrotation on a crankshaft, the intermediate housing section comprising:

i a. first and second housing parts having juxtaposed mating surfacesdisposed in abutment and extending in a plane substantially normal tothe longitudinal axis of the crankshaft;

b. the first second housing parts being constructed and arranged to forma hub portion surrounding said crankshaft and to define a cavitytherebetween surrounding the hub portion; and

c. fastening means disposed in said cavity at the hub portion to securesaid mating surfaces of said first and second housing parts in abutment.

1. A two-piece intermediate housing section for the housing of amulti-rotor rotary mechanism in which each rotor is supported forrotation on a crankshaft, the intermediate housing section comprising:a. first and second housing parts having juxtaposed mating surfacesdisposed in abutment and extending in a plane substantially normal tothe longitudinal axis of the crankshaft; b. the first and second housingparts being constructed and arranged to form a hub portion surroundingsaid crankshaft and to define a cavity therebetween extending fromadjacent the outer peripheries of the housing parts to adjacent the hubportion; and c. a plurality of fastening assemblies disposed in saidcavity to secure said mating surfaces of said first and second housingparts in abutment.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein access port meansis provided in the housing section in communication with said cavity topermit passage of a tool, to engage said fastening assemblies.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of fasteningassemblies comprises a first means associated with the first housingpart and a second means associated with the second housing part, thefirst and second means being adjustable relative to each other so as todraw the two housing parts together.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 whereineach of said fastening assemblies comprises two camming surfaces, eachone being associated with a housing part and disposed to abut the othersurface, and securing means for moving one camming surface relative tothe other camming surface and thereby provide a force directedsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft todraw the housing parts and their mating surfaces into abutment.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 4 wherein said securing means is a bolt.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 4 wherein one of said camming surfaces is a memberbolted to the first housing part and the other camming surface is on amember connected to the second housing part.
 7. The apparatus of claim 3wherein said first means is a U-shaped bracket having a first cammingsurface, said second means is a movable wedge element having a secondcamming surface substantially complementary to said first cammingsurface and wherein a securing means is connected to said wedge elementto move the latter relative to said U-shaped bracket and therebyeffecting through said first and second camming surfaces a forcedirected to secure the mating surfaces of said housing parts inabutment.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and secondhousing parts are constructed and arranged to define a plurality ofcavities one for each of said plurality of fastening assemblies.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 7 wherein said wedge element has a pilot portionreceivable in a recess in said second housing part.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 4 wherein said securing means is a bolt extending radiallyrelative to the crankshaft and is turned into a threaded bore in the hubportion of the intermediate housing section.
 11. The apparatus of claim1 wherein each of said first and second housing parts are securedtogether at their outer peripheries.
 12. A two-piece intermediatehousing section for the housing of a multi-rotor rotary mechanism inwhich each rotor is supported for rotation on a crankshaft, theintermediate housing section comprising: a. first and second housingparts having juxtaposed mating surfaces disposed in abutment andextending in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis ofthe crankshaft; b. means at the outer peripheries of said first andsecond housing parts for securing those housing parts together; c. thefirst and second housing parts forming a hub portion receivingtherethrough said crankshaft and constructed and arranged to define acavity therebetween extending radially from adjacent the outerperipheries of the housing parts to adjacent the hub portion; and d. aplurality of fastening assemblies disposed in said cavity to secure saidmating surfaces of said first and second housing parts in abutmentinwardly of the outer peripheries of said housing parts.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 12 wherein an access port means communicating withthe cavity is provided to permit a tool to engage said fasteningassemblies.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein each of said pluralityof fastening assemblies comprises: a. a first means connected to saidfirst housing part; b. a second means movable relative to said firstmeans and coacting upon relative movement to draw the mating surfaces ofthe housing parts together; and c. securinG means connected to saidsecond means and to the second housing part to effect movement of saidsecond means and hold the same in a desired position.
 15. The apparatusof claim 13 wherein said first means is a bracket having a first cammingsurface and the second means is a wedge element having a second cammingsurface substantially complementary to said first camming surface. 16.The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said securing means is a threadedelement receivable in a threaded bore in said second housing part. 17.The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said wedge element has a pilot portionwhich is receivable in a bore in said second housing part.
 18. Atwo-piece intermediate housing section for the housing of a multi-rotorrotary mechanism in which each rotor is supported for rotation on acrankshaft, the intermediate housing section comprising: a. first andsecond housing parts having juxtaposed mating surfaces disposed inabutment and extending in a plane substantially normal to thelongitudinal axis of the crankshaft; b. the first second housing partsbeing constructed and arranged to form a hub portion surrounding saidcrankshaft and to define a cavity therebetween surrounding the hubportion; and c. fastening means disposed in said cavity at the hubportion to secure said mating surfaces of said first and second housingparts in abutment.